Casket handle



July 27, 1937. e. 1.. KEMPER CASKET. HANDLE Filed June 3, 1956 INVENTOR.

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6% Y y B Patented July 27, v 1937 2,038,476 CASKET HANDLE Gilbert L. Kemper, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor,

mesne assignments, to Sargent & Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 3,1936, Serial No. 83,184

15 Claims.

This invention relates .to improvements in a casket handle.

. An object of the invention is to provide a novel nstruction in a casket handle, whereby the lift bar thereof is arranged to overlie the bar mounting plate in such manner as to normally cover the screws or other fastening means which secure the plate to the side of the casket, thereby to materially enhance theappearance of the casket. Another object of the invention is to provide, in a casket handle structure, a hinge connection which isof a design and configuration such as will impart added security and strength to the structure, while at the same time entering into masking all suggestions of common mechanization which so generally characterized casket handles heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hinge structure for a casket handle, which diifers materially from hinge structures heretofore employed, so that it enables the production of an entirely new trend in designs of casket handles.

These and other objects 'are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the casket handle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on iine -2 of Fig. 1, showing the lift bar swung slightly outwardly. from the support plate.

Fig. 3 is a rear view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. dis a perspective view of a novel hinge structure embodying the invention.

In the drawing, the character sidewall of acasket mounting or support plates 6, which preferably are identical, and which include hinges for swingingiy supporting a lift bar 7. erably is of tubular sheet metal formation, its cross section being either rectangular as disclosed in Fig. 2, cylindrical, elliptical, or of any other geometric contour such as will correspond to the design of the mounting plates. The liftbar disciosed herein by way of example is substantially rectangular in cross section, with the corners slightly indented as at 8. The bar may be provided with suitable ornamented pieces 9 of proper design.

p The hinge structure whereby the lift bar is mounted upon the support plates, comprises a 5 movable hinge leaf l0 and a stationary hinge leaf 5 indicates the to which the casket handle of the invention is adapted to be secured. In gen-e era the casket handle comprises two or more the design of the handle structure generally and gated complementary leaf, said part l1 being The lift bar prefdie is lifted. The

. is provided with l2. The movable leaf has one of its ends I3 enlarged and apertured to provide an open frame adapted to receive the'lift bar and thereby provide a substantial mounting therefor. The opposite end of the movable leaf may be tapered to- 5 ward an aperture l4 provided therein for the purpose of receiving a hinge pin I5. That portion of the movable leaf which is indicated by the character It, and .which portion is intermediate the ends of the leaf, presents an upper elongated 10 lifting edge which extends from the-region of the hinge pin to an adjacent portion of the open frame, that constitutes the opposite end of the leaf.

The elongated lifting edge iii of the movable 15 hinge leaf is adapted to abut a similarly elonpart ll of the stationary a narrow connecting wall, as indicated in Fig. 4, which joins the closely spaced side aprons I8 and IQ of the stationary leaf. The aprons preferably are parallel to one another and the space between them is such as to substantially guide the movable leaf when it is rotated about thepivot I5.

Each side apron of the stationary hinge leaf an arcuate exterior edge 20 which extends through a slot 2i formed in the extending boss 22 on the exposed face of the supporting plate. The boss, in the region of the slot, is formed with a true are of has a radius approximating the radius of the exterior edges 20 of the stationary hinge. leaf. The arcuate edges of the aprons, therefore, are flush with the edges of the slot at the, exterior of the support plate. The dead end 23 of the slot provides a stopfor the narrow connecting wall it of the stationary hinge leaf, and said stop may be strengthened by providing a thickened portion 26 above the portion ii. in'g iug or ear 25, which is an of the narrow connecting wall i? of the stationary hinge leaf, is adapted to be imbedded in the metal of the support plate as indicated at 26 in Figs. 2 and 3, the purpose there f being to anchor it hold- -'the hinge leaf at a single point above the pivot or hinge. It should be noted that the aprons oi the stationary hinge leaf are made quite extensive in order to prevent sidewise swaying or shifting of the movable hinge-leaf when the hanaprons insure always a true swinging movement of the hinge leaf 8B in a. vertical plane.

The open frame end 63 of the movable hinge leaf is imbedded in a casting 27 which surrounds the lift bar and includes the open frame part it a circle, and 30 integral extension 40 said casting being suitably decorated and having an upper lip or overhang 28 which, in all positions of the lift bar, conceals the slot and the arcuate edges 20 of the stationary hinge leaf. The casting 21 has an abutment 29 at its lower end, adapted to substantially meet or contact a complementary abutment or stop 30 at the lower end of the support plate, while the lift bar rests within a transverse deep recess 3i directly above said stop. The recess 3i extends entirely across the lower portion of the support plate, and it includes an aperture 32 of the plate, which aperture receives the inner portion 33 of the casting 21. Within each recess 3| is provided an apertured boss 34 which extends to the side wall 5 of the casket and receives a screw, bolt, or other suitable fastening means 35 whereby the support plate is securely mounted upon the wall 5. As the fastening means is located within the recess, it is evident that thelift bar completely conceals said fastening means when the bar is moved to the inoperative position within, the recess 3!.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the fastening means 35 and the hinge pin l5 are con-- cealed entirely within the support plate, and as the spacing between the aprons i8 and I9 of hinge leaf l 2 is very limited, the hinge pin may be comparatively' short. Moreover, the hinge pin is supported by the apron at two points which are has great strength and is not susceptible to bending. It has been found satisfactory, in practice, to use an ordinary rivet rather than a steel pin, for hinging the lift bar upon the mounting or supporting plate. In addition to the foregoing advantages, it is particularly important to note that the cooperative elongated abutments l1 and I6 provide a very extensive and amply large bearing for distribution of weight from one hinge leaf .,to the other and the fulcrum at I6 is sufficiently removed from the hinge pin to avoid high shear ing forces, so that added durability and safety characterizethe structure.

In conclusion, attention is; directed to the fact that the construction disclosed provides for a substantial and ample swing of the lift bar to the operative or extended position, without resort to clumsy and unsightly mechanical expedients which heretofore detracted considerably from the beauty and balance of casket handle design. The appearance is further greatly en- 'hanced by reason of the concealment of the screws or other fastening means which fix the device to the side of the casket. The lift bar, incidentally, may be of any desired length, and the distance at which the bar support plates are spaced apart, is a matter of choice. In the event that the lift bar is to be quite long, three or more mounting plates or support plates 6, may be associated, according ,to the requirements or in keeping with the design of the remainder of the structure.

The characters 36 and 31 indicate screws, pins, .or other fastening means for connecting the casting 21 to the 1m bar. Fig. 2 shows the 1m bar in a position intermediate the vertical inoperative position, and the extended or operative position. It is to be understood that various modifica-. tions and changes in the structural details of the device maybe made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: I 1'. In a casket handle structure, the combina tion of a lifting bar, a supporting plate including.

not widely spaced apart, so that the short pina transverse recess of a width sufiicient to provide a seat for a portion of the bar, means comprising a hinge connection for guiding the lifting bar into and from the transverse recess, and plate mounting means located within the recess and in a position at which the lifting bar overlies said mounting means upon disposition of the bar within the embrace of the recess.

3. In a handle structure, the combination of a lifting bar, a slotted mounting plate therefor comprising a stationary hinge leaf fixed adjacent to the slot and including a pair of closely spaced side aprons of considerable area, said aprons having aligned apertures for reception of a hinge pin, an elongated connecting wall between the side aprons adapted to abut a portion of the mounting plate near the slot thereof, and a movable'hinge leaf fixed relative to the lifting bar and having an apertured extension received between the side aprons of the stationary leaf, an elongated upper lifting edge on the movable hinge leaf adapted to abut the elongated connecting wall that joins the side aprons of the stationary leaf, and a short hinge pin extending through the.apertures of the aprons and the extension of the movable hinge leaf.

4. In a handle structure, the combination of a lifting bar, amounting plate therefor including a forwardly extending boss having a slot formed therein to the exterior of the boss, a stationary hinge leaf fixed behind the boss and adjacent to the slot thereof, said hinge leaf including a pair of closely spaced side aprons of considerable area, said aprons being disposed en-' tirely within the limits of the mounting plate and including aligned apertures for reception of a hinge pin to be concealed behind the boss, an elongated connecting wall for the side aprons, said wall being in abutment with a portion of the boss adjacent to the slot therein, a movable hinge leaf fixed relative to the lifting bar and having an apertured end received between the side aprons of the stationary leaf, an elongated upper lifting edge on the movable hinge leaf, adapted to abut the elongated connecting wall of the stationary leaf, and a short hinge pin concealed by the boss and extending through the apertures of the aprons and the movable hinge leaf.-

5. In a handle structure, the combination of a lifting bar, a mounting plate therefor including a forwardly extending boss having a slot formed therein to the exterior of the boss, a stationary hinge leaf fixed behind the boss and adjacent to theslot thereof, said hinge leaf including a pair of closely spaced side aprons of considerable area, said aprons being disposed entirely within the limits of the mounting plate and including aligned apertures-for reception of a hinge pin to be concealed behind theboss, an elongated connecting wall for the side aprons, said wall being in abutment with a portion of the boss adjacent to the slot therein, a movable hinge leaf fixed relative to the lifting bar and having an aper-' tured end received between the side aprons of the stationary leaf, an elongated upper lifting edge on the movable hinge leaf, adapted to abut the elongated connecting wall of the stationary leaf, a short hinge pin concealed by the boss and extending through the apertures of the aprons and the movable hinge leaf, and an overhanging lip carried by the lift bar, disposed for concealing the slot of the boss in all positions of the lifting bar. 1

6. In a handle structure, the combination of.a lifting bar, a mounting plate therefor including a transverse recess of a width suflicient to provide for reception of the bar, an extending boss on the plate including a slot in the outer face of the boss, a stationary hinge leaf comprising a side apron having an aperture for reception of a hinge pin, said apron being located entirely within the con fines of the plate in adjacency with the slot of the boss, an elongated abutment wall extending from the apron substantially at right angles thereto, a movable hinge leaf fixed relative to the lifting bar and having an apertured end pivoted to the apron of the stationary leaf, an elongated upper lifting edge on the movable hinge leaf adapted to abut the elongated abutment of the apron, a hinge pin extending through the apertures of the apron and the movable hinge leaf so as to guide the swinging movement of the lift bar into and from the recess of the plate, and fastening means for the mounting plate located within the recess for concealment by the lifting bar.

7. In a handle structure, the combination of a lifting bar, amounting plate therefor includinga transverse recess of a width sufficient to provide for reception of the bar, an extending boss on the plate including a slot in the outer face of the boss, a stationary hinge leaf comprising a side apron having an aperture for reception of a hinge pin, said apron being located entirely within the confines of the plate in adjacency with the slot of the boss, an elongated abutment wall extending from the apron substantially at right angles thereto, a movable hinge leaf fixed relative to the lifting bar and having an apertured end pivoted to the apron of the stationary leaf, an elongated upper lifting edge on the movable hinge leaf adapted to abut the-elongated abutment of the apron, a hinge pin extending through 'the apertures of the apron and the movable hinge leaf so as to guide the swinging movement of the lift bar into and from the recess of the plate, fastening means for the mounting plate located within the recess for concealment by the lifting bar, and means carried by the lifting bar and extended toward the boss, for overhanging the slot of the boss and concealing said slot while the lifting bar is disposed in the embrace of the transverse recess.

8. In a handle structure of the class described, the combination of a lifting bar, a mounting plate therefor comprising an extending boss having an arcuate portion provided with a vertical slot, a stationary hinge leaf fixed within the plate adjacent to the slot and including a pair of closely spaced side aprons of considerable area bounded by arcuate edges corresponding to the curvature of the slot of the boss, said aprons having aligned apertures for reception ofa hinge pin, an elon gated connecting wall between the side aprons adapted to abut the upper end of the slot, a movable hinge leaf fixed relative to the lifting bar and having an apertured extension received be- ;ween the side'aprons of the stationary leaf, an :longated upper lifting edge on the movable iinge leaf adapted to abut the elongated coniecting wall that joins the side aprons of the stationary leaf, a short hinge pin extending through the apertures of the'aprons and the extension of the movable hinge leaf, and an overhanging lip carried by the lifting bar adapted to move in an arcuate path over the slot of the boss, and proportioned to concealthe slot in all positions of the lifting bar as it is rotated about the hinge pin.

9. A casket handle comprising a plate, an arm pivoted to the plate, a handle bar carried by said arm and extending transversely of the plate, and spaced means to secure said plate to a casket, said means being alined transversely of the plate and lying below said bar to be thereby concealed from view and being the sole securing means con necting said plate to the casket.

10. A casket handle comprising a plate, an arm pivoted to the plate, a handle bar carried by said arm and extending transversely of the plate, and said plate" being provided with spaced openings alined transversely of the plate for the reception of fastening members, and said openings lying below said bar to be concealed from view thereby and constituting the only openings for fastening members through said plate.

11. 'A casket handle comprising a plate, an arm pivoted to the plate, a handle bar carried at the lower end of said arm, and said plate being provided. with a recess extending transversely across the same above the lower edge thereof, said-recess being adapted to receive a portion of said bar when the latter is swung against the plate.

12. A casket handle comprising a plate, an arm pivoted to the plate, a handle bar carried at the lower end of said arm, said plate being provided with a recess extending transversely across the same, said recess being adapted to receive a portion of said bar when the latter is swung against the plate, and said plate being provided with spaced openings in the bottom of said recess to receive fastening members to secure the plate in place.

13. A casket handle comprising a plate, an arm pivoted to the plate, a. handle bar carried by said am and extending transversely of the plate on both sides of the arm, and spaced means to secure the plate to a casket, said means being aligned transversely of the plate and being disposed on either side of said arm and lying below the bar to be thereby concealed from view.

14. A casket handle comprising a plate, an arm pivoted to the plate, a handle bar carried by said arm and extending transversely of the plate on both sides of the arm, said plate being provided with spaced openings aligned transversely thereof for the reception offastening members, and said openings being disposed on either side of said arm and lying below said bar to be concealed from view thereby.

15. In a casket handle structure, a lifting bar, a mounting plate therefor, means for supporting said bar from the plate comprising fixed and movable hinge leaves, said fixed leaf being secured to the plate and comprising a pair of closely spaced side aprons arranged in substantial parallelism, and said movable leaf being secured to the lifting bar and having a flat portion extending between said aprons and pivoted to the fixed leaf whereby side sway of the movable leaf is prevented.

GILBERT L. KEMPER. 

